The NCCN Guidelines for Patients®: Ovarian Cancer has been updated to Version 1.2015 and reflects the most recent updates in the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Ovarian Cancer. This update includes many important changes and additions, such as addressing genetic counseling as part of initial testing for all patients. It also includes a number of new recommendations for primary chemotherapy, maintenance treatment, and recurrence treatment.

The weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin regimen is a new primary chemotherapy option for all stages. Pazopanib (Votrient) is a new option for maintenance treatment following a complete response to primary chemotherapy for stage II, III, or IV ovarian cancer. Additionally, olaparib (Lynparza), a recently approved PARP inhibitor, is now recommended as an option for recurrence treatment and is included as a “preferred” option for both platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant disease. Three other combination regimens and one single agent have also been added as options for recurrence treatment. A full list of recent updates in the NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Ovarian Cancer, Version 1.2015, is available on NCCN.org/patients.

This patient resource was developed according to plain language principles to improve health literacy. The updated design and format feature patient-friendly elements such as medical illustrations alongside descriptions of body parts, tests, and treatments. It also includes an expansive glossary with definitions of medical terms and acronyms.

NCCN Guidelines for Patients® provide the same current and accurate cancer information on health care options that clinicians access in the NCCN clinical guidelines. A digital version of the NCCN Guidelines for Patients®: Ovarian Cancer is available to view and download free-of-charge on NCCN.org/patients.